Concrete Selection

Guidance on the selection of designated concrete in housing and other applications BS EN 85001

Application

Designated concrete

Recommended consistence class

Unreinforced foundations and associated works

Blinding and mass concrete fill

GEN1

S3

Strip footings

GEN1

S3

Mass concrete foundations

GEN1

S3

Trench fill foundations

GEN1

S4

Drainage works to give immediate support

GEN1

S1

Other drainage works

GEN1

S3

Oversite below suspended slab

GEN1

S3

Unreinforced foundations requiring DC-2 to DC-4 concrete

DC-2

FND2

S3

DC-2z

FND2Z

S3

DC-3

FND3

S3

DC-3z

FND3Z

S3

DC-4

FND4

S3

DC-4z

FND4Z

S3

DC-4m

FND4M

S3

General applications

Kerb bedding & backing

GEN0

S1

Floors

House floors with no embedded metal

- Permanent finish added
e.g a screed or floating floor

GEN1

S2

- No permanent finish to be added
e.g carpeted

GEN2

S2

Garage floors with no embedded metal

GEN3

S2

Wearing surface: Light foot and trolley traffic

RC25/30

S2

Wearing surface: general industrial

RC32/40

S2

Selection of Consistence

The selection of fresh concrete should be suitable for the conditions of handling and placing so that after compaction, concrete surrounds all reinforcement, tendons and ducts and completely fills the formwork. The table below gives guidance on the consistence expressed as slump [S (number)] classes appropriate to different uses. Where a concrete is to be laid on a slope, a lower slump class than that given in table below might be necessary.